This week I travelled to the east end of the city to speak to Newcastle Benfield Bay Plastics' captain Alu Bangura about his career in non-league football and life at Sam Smiths Park.

Over the past 10 years Bangura has been a regular face throughout the non-league scene and at 32 is enjoying the best times of his football career to date.

The West African midfielder, born in Sierra Leone, came over to England when he was four years old and by the age of 10 was playing for Cleveland Hall Juniors.

He began his non-league career at Brandon United at the tender age of 18 and has since played for six other Northern League teams, working under some great characters within the game in recent years.

Bangura said: "I have played for a few clubs since it all began for me at Brandon.

"I had a fantastic year at Morpeth Town with Peter Feenan and I also enjoyed playing under Richie McLoughlin at Jarrow Roofing and at Dunston Fed with Bobby Scaife."

It was at Morpeth Town where Bangura was handed trials at Football League clubs Carlisle United and Scunthorpe United.

He added: "I had six weeks at Carlisle and then a month down at Scunthorpe United when I was 23. It was a great experience but unfortunately nothing worked out for me and I returned to Northern League football."

At 28, Bangura was signed for Newcastle Benfield by the former management team of Keith Sheardown and Lee Boyle and was made captain of the team as they entered the Northern League for the first time.

He said: "I loved the responsibility that went with the job. We had a very young side so I was delighted when we won promotion to the First Division.

"The togetherness and work ethic of the team was unbelievable and I was thrilled to be able to have played such a major role in the beginning of Newcastle Benfield's history in the Northern League."

Bangura, who is a manager at Northern Rock in Gosforth by day, believes this team spirit has played a vital role in the recent rise of Newcastle Benfield and is excited about what the future holds both on and off the pitch.

He added: "We have great characters at the club - Dean Fuller, Karl Baston, Shaun Bell and Johnny Brown, who have all been a huge help to me in keeping this team spirit within the camp.

"We are a very close group of players who enjoy a night on the town, and this really helps the togetherness when we go out and play.

"Newcastle Benfield Bay Plastics is developing into a major team within the Northern League under the guidance of Paul Baker and Paddy Atkinson.

"This is my fourth season at the club and the changes I have seen on and off the pitch have been incredible."

Bangura went on: "The commitment shown by our charismatic chairman Jimmy Rowe and the out-of-hours work from Danny Gates and Stan Thompson on improving the ground and the pitch has contributed to a set-up which more than meets the demands of the Northern League."

Bangura is relishing the challenge this season will bring and thinks there are up to 10 teams who could all go close to winning the First Division title.

Consistency, he claims, is the key to being successful at this level.

He said: "At 32 I still get very excited about match days, just as I did when my non-league career kicked off, and I would really love this club to be successful this season."

It seems Alu, or Lewi to his friends, is still very much enjoying his football and his infectious smile could still be around a bit longer yet.